Weather

       When people think of Africa, rain is typically the furthest thing from their minds. However, I have now been here 17 days and only 3 of those days has there been no rain. It is true that the rain does not last all day like it does in Oregon, although, I have seen it pour harder here then I have ever seen before!!!When it has rained here it has lasted a maximum of 1 hour with the exception of night/day (it poured for 6 hours).
       Flooding is not too much a problem in Ho, or other big towns in Ghana because of the large gutters on the sides of the roads (2 feet wide by anywhere from 2-6 feet deep). The day that it rained for 6 hours there was definitely some flooding in the villages near by. We were actually planning on leaving that morning at 7:30am to go to Ziavi (a small village outside of Ho) for a dedication ceremony/celebration. We had to delay our trip because the rain was still pouring when we woke up (it started at 3:00am) and we would not be able to find a taxi to take us out there it that weather (nor would we want to)! When we  were finally able to leave the trip was interesting to say the least! We basically went off roading in our taxi (I have already described the state of the taxis here) and had to keep our windows closed because the "puddles" we hit splashed into the car the first time we went through one.
       Anyway... the weather despite then rain and even during the rain is hot. I am finally acclimated here, though that does not mean I don't sweat. Everyone here sweats, even the locals who have lived here their entire lives! It is hot and humid here. The last couple of days have been cool (mid 80's), which is much nicer. I have finally got a fan, so the average temperature of my room (87 degrees) is much more bearable. My mother bought me 70spf sunblock, so I thought I would use it and not get burned. Wrong!!! I have put it on multiple times and am finally done healing from my third sunburn. My "sisters" (other volunteers) and I went to the Freedom Hotel last Sunday to go swimming. I put my 70spf on everywhere (and more than once), but my legs. On my legs I used my roommates 20spf once. Where is the only place I got absolutely no sun... my legs. From now on I am not using my sunblock and using my roomies instead!!!
     Though the weather is hot and only going to be getting hotter, I am thoroughly enjoying it. We did not get much of a summer this year in the grove and I now feel like I will get my fill of it for the next three months!